Keep unfunded mandates to yourself, task force advises lawmakers

Back in February, Gov. Rick Perry appointed a Task Force on Unfunded Mandates in response to complaints from local elected officials. State lawmakers, the local folks said, had this irritating habit of passing laws and regulations to be implemented by cities, counties and school districts and then conveniently ignoring the fact that implementing said laws and regulations cost the local governments money. The nine-member task force — which includes Houston Mayor Annise Parker and Houston City Councilman Mike Sullivan — has just released its recommendations.

The group dealt with education, public safety and trasportation, among other areas. Recommendations include:

* Allowing school districts to determine the appropriate student-to-teacher ratio (Currently, the state mandates a 22:1 ratio);

* Allowing local governments to retain proceeds from red light cameras instead of transferring a portion of the revenue to the state (Houston, of course, says never mind);

* Reducing the time a county jail must hold inmates awaiting transfer to state facilities;

* Allowing local governments to regulate public swimming pools instead of having to abide by commercial swimming pool standards;

* Allowing local governments greater flexibility on interest rates and benefit structures for their retirement systems;

* Repealing a requirement that Harris County provide liability insurance for both public and private vehicles that peace officers drive;

* Repealing the requirement that a county have a historical commission.